Turkish S-400 Poses Threat to NATO Aircraft: NATO Secretary General

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, has remarked that Turkey’s S-400 air defense system poses a threat to aircraft operated by the alliance.

"I have repeatedly pointed out to Turkey that the Russia’s S-400 ADS is not compatible with NATO technologies. It cannot be integrated into NATO air defenses. In addition, it poses a risk to Allied aircraft," Stoltenberg said, Interfax reported citing German Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) news agency.

“On the other hand, U.S.-made Patriot and Eurosam SAMP/T systems will strengthen Turkey's air defense capabilities and can be integrated into NATO's defenses,” he asserted.

Around this time last year, Stoltenberg said NATO was working on a solution to combine the S-400 with Patriots.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a series of sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against Turkey’s military procurement agency (SSB) and four senior Turkish officials for its S-400 buy on December 14. They prohibit the SSB from importing or exporting to US entities. Since the SSB is the main coordinating agency for all defense projects including that of international sales, sanctions against it may impede Turkey’s ability to manufacture and export defense goods.